Clinical Impact of Preoperative Albumin-Bilirubin Status in Esophageal Cancer Patients Who Receive Curative Treatment

Background/aim: The albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score, which evaluates the perioperative liver function, was developed, and had a clinical impact on both the short- and long-term oncological outcomes in some malignancies. We evaluated the clinical impact of preoperative albumin-bilirubin status in patients with resectable esophageal cancer who received curative treatment.

Patients And Methods: The study included 121 patients who underwent curative surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy for esophageal cancer between 2005 and 2018. The risk factors for overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were identified.

Results: Based on the 3- and 5-year OS rates, we set the cut-off value for the ALBI score at -2.7. Eighty patients were classified into the ALBI-low group (ALBI score <-2.7), 41 patients were categorized into the ALBI-high group (ALBI score >-2.7). The 3- and 5-year OS rates were 62.2% and 53.2%, respectively, in the ALBI-low group, and 42.2% and 35.2% in the ALBI-high group. There was a significant difference in OS (p=0.0113). The 3- and 5-year RFS rates were 43.1% and 40.3%, respectively, in the ALBI-low group and 37.7% and 26.1% in the ALBI-high group. There was a significant difference in RFS (p=0.048). When comparing the perioperative clinical course between the ALBI-high and ALBI-low groups, the incidence of postoperative anastomotic leakage was 46.3% (19/41) in the ALBI-high group, and 27.5% (22/80) in the ALBI-low group (p=0.038).

Conclusion: The ALBI status had a clinical impact on both OS and RFS in esophageal cancer patients. Therefore, ALBI may have potential application as a prognostic factor for esophageal cancer patients.